Our Board

Jesse Smith has served as Chair of Jodie’s Inspiration since its inception in 2015. He holds undergraduate degrees in Arts and Teaching, a First Class Honours degree in History, and postgraduate degrees in Education Leadership and Theology. Jesse has served on state sporting executives for the past 10 years. His responsibilities included oversight of the Judiciary and Public Relations Subcommittees. He is currently employed in the world of education and holds an executive leadership role. As Chair of Jodie’s Inspiration, Jesse has oversight of governance and compliance matters. He brings a passion for the cause given his family connection to founder Jodie McRae.

Jenny was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1982. She was subsequently admitted in the High Court of Australia and the Supreme Court of Queensland in 1996, having been recognised as an Accredited Family Law Specialist. Jenny is a Member of the Australian Institute of Family Law Arbitrators, and the Law Council of Australia. She has also undertaken Mediation training through the Dispute Resolution Centre at Bond University. In 1997, Jenny was recruited to the Family Court of Australia as a Registrar with her main responsibility being the Lismore, Gold Coast and Coffs Harbour Registries of that Court. In December 1998, she was appointed as a Court Mediator. Jenny worked for the Court for 3 years. She is Chair of the Far North Coast Family Law Practitioners Association and sits on the Management Committee of the Family Law Pathways Network of Northern New South Wales. Jenny is an Executive Member of Lord’s Taverners Northern New South Wales. Jenny brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Board of Jodie’s Inspiration.

Cheryl Bourne is a Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) and has been a highly successful business leader over many decades. She was a 20-year partner of Rochdale Accounting, serving as a Tax Agent until she retired in 2014. Cheryl now works for the practice in a consulting capacity. She serves on the Boards of the Byron Writers’ Festival and Crowley Care Services in Ballina. She holds the position of Treasurer on the boards of Jodie’s Inspiration and the Byron Writers’ Festival. Cheryl was involved in the planning committees for building Holy Family School and Little Angels Long Day Care Centre at Lennox Head. Her association with Jodie McRae, the Founder of Jodie’s Inspiration, has been long. Cheryl’s step children’s mother died of breast cancer 22 years ago so Jodie’s Inspiration is very close to her heart on two levels: firstly on behalf of her children’s biological mother and, secondly, because Jodie was a client of her accounting practice for over 15 years and she deeply admired her from the first day they met. Cheryl’s long-standing governance and financial experience greatly adds to the Jodie’s Inspiration Board.

Betty-Anne Durheim is the present Owner, Director and Manager of Lismore Travel Pty Ltd, trading as Helloworld Travel Lismore. She has a long history of operating her own small businesses and managing staff. She has also served in administrative roles at local high schools and Southern Cross University. Betty-Anne brings to the Board a strong knowledge of the mission of Jodie’s Inspiration, having been close personal friends with founder Jodie McRae over many years. To use Jodie’s words, “Betty-Anne sees the world as I do,” so it is fitting she is responsible for the vision and mission of the charity in her capacity as a Board Member. Her management and business experience also add to the Board’s skillset.

Janelle brings a wide variety of administrative, charity and business experience to the Board of Jodie’s Inspiration. She is a trained counsellor for Nursing Mothers Australia and a licenced Real Estate and Auctioneer. Janelle has experience in the not-for-profit sector having established the Ballina Toy Library and as a member of the Ballina and Lismore Inner Wheel Clubs. She joined the Board in 2023 and sees it as a privilege to be a part of Jodie’s Inspiration and strongly supports its work as a charity dedicated to helping people through their cancer journey.